Not misinterpreted at all - Correctly interpreted as disruptive behavior in a classroom.
The problem is that too many times disruptive behavior from a White student is overlooked while the same disruptive behavior in a Black student is punished. That's the real double standard I'm referring to.
My highschool was one of middle class whites (60%) & ghetto blacks, who were bussed in (40%). Only a handful of the bussed in kids went to school to learn, and those kids had something in common- a parent who cared. There was a small minority of middle class blacks also & they performed at the same level as whites from their economic status.
Regarding the double standard. In my school it was the exact opposite of what you describe. The black kids were simply predators who would terrorize the white kids. When these kids would beat the hell out of a white kid, who just happened to be in the bathroom at the wrong time, the white kid would get suspended for the same amount of time. This happened all of the time & parents could do nothing about it. Why? Well the school didn't want to look racist. I know! There wasn't a white kid in my school who wasn't afraid everytime the bell rang. MAFREE, I lived it & know. The double standards are 100% opposite then the one you describe.
Here we agree: disruptive behavior should not be tolerated from any student. As much as teachers must try to treat everyone equally, we know they are human, with the same failings as we have, and I'm sure it is not a rare occurence that teachers let behavior slide in white kids with whom they can identify (at least the first time or two) that they would crack down on in black kids, especially those who come with histories of being disruptive. Is that wrong? Yes, as I've consistently stated in this thread, standards should be the same for all. The harder question is the context of the behavior and the surrounding circumstances. A 'smart' remark from an otherwise good student doesn't have the same effect on classroom discipline that a 'smart' remark from a kid who is failing and has no interest in the class. The former may simply break the tension and get a laugh, the latter may be a direct challenge to the teacher's authority. But that can only be determined in the situation and that's where mature judgement comes in. A judgement all too often lacking. I sympathize with your concerns, truly, despite the serious points I've made in other posts.